Join the fun near Santee. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Santee, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$35 - $140 / night
"This location is a hidden gem in the outskirts of the city."
"We had scoped this out as a wintering location for my snowbird dad, and I always remembered how powerfully silence of that hillside had impacted me... finally camped there- it was lovely!"
$24 - $100 / night
"The creek eventually flows into a pond located on the other end of the campground. The pond is actually pretty large! Lots of space to walk around and explore."
"The missus and I decided to do a midweek overnight escape and chose Dos Picos Park due to its close proximity.
Great little campground with partial (electricity & water) hookups."
$24 - $25 / night
"Nice trails nearby and within the campground. The city of Santee was only 10 minutes away with plenty of stores and restaurants."
"Campground was close to freeway exit and nearby local neighborhoods. Despite that, it still felt quiet and comfortable. Sites were clean snd a good size. Bathrooms were nice and clean."
$34 - $38 / night
"I’m not sure you’ll find a campground like this anywhere else in California for $29/night with partial hookups. It was quiet and peaceful. Bathrooms could have used some attention."
"The campground also has some nice amenities: good trail system, a splash pad (open in spring and summer months), a playground, some areas to have a group picnic, even a large event room."
"Being a native San Diegan The east county location allows for easy access to San Diego sites from two freeways."
"Kids loved the convenient fishing right behind our trailer and the swimming pools a short drive away. Also was able to rent paddle boats to cruise around the lakes."
".
+ The gate makes it feel more safe as it's right next to a path by a river, which seemed sketchy at times.
+ During the week it felt spacious.
+ We worked remotely from here and picked up a good"
"Walking distance to stores if something is needed."
$50 - $650 / night
"If you’re headed to San Diego, be sure to stop and check out Carlsbad just off of the 5. this awesome beach town is quintessential Southern California beach awesomeness and it is absolutely gorgeous."
"One of best beach campgrounds in California. Beach is right there next to camping. Restroom and shower are clean even though too many people there"
$60 / night
"It sits next to the bay, which is calmer and the beach. I've seen people jet ski, sail, paddle boat, play beach volleyball, and swim, and there are even bonfire pits on the beach!"
"We had 4 campsites all next to each other. The camp hosts were all very nice, they drove around quite a bit making sure all was good. For how many sites they have it didn’t seem too crowded."
$50 - $520 / night
"If you wanna go on a surfside southern california adventure and keep it fun and cheap then this place is great."
"It's classic California beach camping. Spots are fairly close together, and it's more like a parking lot than a campground. That said, the beach is great, and the river mouth is great for surfing."
$65 - $85 / night
"Great choice for camping along the ocean in Southern California."
"Can’t beat the proximity to the beach! Spots next to the road are loud and the campground is busy with small parking lot style areas, but if you can get a spot backing on to the beach, A+."
ScoutHad a great time here and the staff were amazing. Highly recommend. Has a pool, park for the kids, and a little shop to get any of your necessities.
TravelerGreat spot for camping , if you have a big rig it’s a little tight to move around on the roads but definitely nice for sprinters / trucks / suvs or even cars ! Roads are PAVED , I think thats new because I don’t remember that last year when i went !
ScoutLots of things to do! Right next to the beach, large campgrounds! Fire pits and dog friendly!
ScoutOverall the campground / park is very nice and has all of the amenities (toilets, showers, water, etc.). The view overlooking the water is nice!
It is a very populated area, the campsites are close to one and other. That said, we had a nice space. There is a highway (the 101) and active railroad adjacent to the park.
LegendOur friends just bought a camper van and wanted to test the systems on it while having a weekend getaway and this was a great spot for it! All hookups PLUS dump out in each spot (so convenient, loved this!). It’s right in the middle of the city but they did a great job making it feel like you were out in nature. Great walking around the trails and lake. 8 minutes from a super Walmart if you need anything. Other campers are next to you, but not right on top of you. The camp hosts were friendly and do a great job of keeping the sites and bathrooms super clean! Fire pits and picnic tables in each spot as well. One of the hosts offered us some leftover firewood, but we had a propane pit we were using. It’s not a “must come back to” spot but great for a last minute camping experience!
ScoutI've camped at Burnt Rancheria for about 15 years. The hosts that were there in 2024 were ATROCIOUS, unfriendly, intrusive and homophobic. I'm thrilled to say that a new company was hired to run the campground for 2025 called WesTrek- and what a difference! Our camping trip was WONDERFUL last weekend.
We had hosts that were helpful, friendly, the restrooms were stocked/clean, they brought firewood around, and were just good people. Big shout-out to the hosts Dax, Lane, Nick,& Sara-- we will happily start camping here regularly again! So relieved that we can actually*relax* in nature and not have camp hosts driving by every five minutes glaring at us!
One other thing to note- the campground is divided into two parts. The south half(more chapparal) can be reserved online. It has the showers and flush toilets. The north side(more pines!) is first-come/ first-serve only and close by the overflow parking, vault toilets only. Potable water available throughout whole campground. 10/10 one of my fave spots in southern california!
TravelerMy favorite spot to come up from san diego (only and hour away) and escape to some pine trees and meadow wilderness. So many hikes behind this campground I definitely recommend checking out
GuideBeautiful Campground just outside San Diego. Busy but is well maintained. Not the most quiet, but we enjoyed watching the planes fly over and people watching!
TravelerI and my family are more tent campers vs RV and we were the only site with tents, so I wouldn't go there without wheels lol. Other than that- INCREDIBLE spot, literally steps from the beach. Affordable showers, private restrooms.
Camping near Santee, California, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful retreat, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping around Santee, CA, has something for everyone, whether you're in a tent, RV, or cabin. Enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Santee, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 173 campgrounds and RV parks near Santee, CA and 13 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Santee, CA is Lake Jennings with a 4.7-star rating from 32 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 free dispersed camping spots near Santee, CA.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Santee, CA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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